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Taste the Rainbow: Eating Colorful Foods for Phytonutrients!

Leave a Comment / By Caitlin Havener /

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Also note: While I am a certified nutrition coach, I am not a medical doctor. Information here is not intended to be a replacement for the advice you should seek from your doctor.

Let’s Paint Our Plates with Every Color of the Rainbow! 🌈

Imagine turning your meals into a colorful adventure where every bite not only bursts with flavor but also sprinkles a bit of health magic into your day! Picture this: every color on your plate, from the reddest apple to the greenest leaf, is like a secret ingredient, packed with super cool things called phytonutrients that help keep us super healthy and buzzing with energy! 🚴‍♂️💪

So, why not make it a fun goal to add at least five different colors from fruits and veggies to our plates every day? 🎯 But wait, why is eating all these colorful foods so awesome for us? 🤔

Rainbow Charcuterie Board: Eat More Color Infographic | American Heart Association — What a colorful diet looks like – Image from Eat More Color Infographic | American Heart Association

The answer lies in the content of different phytonutrients. These are non-other than the pigments responsible for the color of different fruits and veggies. But the best part is that each of these phytonutrients has a pivotal role in promoting our health by working as powerful antioxidants, as well as having distinct nutritional benefits. Let’s have a look at the main phytonutrients and their main properties, divided by color.

rainbow charcuterie board: fruits and veggies nutrients by colors — Image from goodparentingbrighterchildren.com

Note: I am not a doctor and you should see your doctor if you are looking to treat existing ailments. I found this information across the next at the most reliable sources. References below.

Red Plant Food Phytonutrients

Red plant foods may contain any of the following phytonutrients:

Betacyanins
- prevents premature aging
- cancer preventing antioxidant
Capsaicin
- aid in weight loss
- reduce inflammation
- reduce pain
Ellagic Acid
- Cancer prevention
- anti-inflammatory
- obesity prevention
Lycopene
- protects against oxidative stress that prevents chronic diseases, cancer, diabetes, and more
- may protect against cancers of the prostate, lungs, breasts, and kidneys
- may improve cholesterol levels, preventing heart disease
- helps prevent damage caused by UV rays
Nitrate
- improve athletic performance
- regulate blood pressure
- breathing and circulation

Yellow / Orange Plant Food Phytonutrients

Yellow and orange plant foods may contain any of the following phytonutrients:

Beta Carotene
- Immune System
- Vision
- Skin Health
- Bone Health
Beta Cryptoxanthin
- converted to Vitamin A in the body
- skin and bone health
- immunity
- reduce the risk of arthritis
Betaxanthins
- prevents premature aging
- cancer preventing antioxidant
Bromelain
- anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatment for Osteoarthritis
- prevents or treats (in high amounts, like a supplement) asthma, Chronic sinusitis, colitis, burns, and cancer
Curcumin
- powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
- increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in your brain
- lowers the risk of heart disease
- help prevent and perhaps even treat cancer
- prevention of Alzheimer’s disease
- reduce joint inflammation in those with arthritis
- antidepressant
Flavones
- anti-inflammatory
- uplifting overall health
Flavanones
- potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
- weight management
- cholesterol management
- promoting cardiovascular health
- soothe the nervous system

Green Plant Food Phytonutrients

Green plant foods may contain any of the following phytonutrients:

Chlorophyll
- anti-aging
- treats hemoglobin deficiency disorders, such as anemia
- reduces body odors
- helps heal surgical wounds and prevent infections
- slows cancer growth
Isoflavones
- hormonal balance
- lower the risk of breast, endometrial, and prostate cancers
- regulate the menstrual cycle
Isothiocyanates
- prominent role in cancer prevention
Lutein & Zeaxanthin
- improve or reduce the progression of many eye conditions
- antioxidants in the skin that prevent sun damage, help to improve skin tone, and to slow down aging
Myrosinase (an enzyme that activates Sulforaphane, which has these benefits)
- prevent cancer cell growth
- supports heart health
- regulate blood sugar levels, preventing diabetes
- helps with digestion
- improved symptoms of autism-like social interaction and verbal communication
- potential to improve recovery and reduce mental decline after a brain injury
- protect against ultraviolet (UV) skin damage caused by the sun
Phytocannabinoids (also found in CBD)
- treatment and prevention of malignant brain tumors
- treatment and prevention of Parkinson’s disease (PD)
- treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
- treatment and prevention of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain
- treatment and prevention of childhood seizure disorders

Blue / Purple Plant Food Phytonutrients

Blue and purple plant foods may contain any of the following phytonutrients:

Anthocyanidins
- prevents heart disease by improving cholesterol levels and blood sugar metabolism
- prevents breast cancer
Procyanidins
- protect the body from sun damage
- improve vision
- improve flexibility in joints, arteries, and body tissues such as the heart
- improve blood circulation by strengthening capillaries, arteries, and veins
Resveratrol
- lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide
- lengthened lifespan in animal studies
- protects brain cells from damage
- helps develop better insulin sensitivity
- relieve joint pain
- inhibit cancer cell growth

Black Plant Food Phytonutrients

Black plant foods may contain any of the following phytonutrients:

Phytocannabinoids (also found in CBD)treatment and prevention of malignant brain tumors
- treatment and prevention of Parkinson’s disease (PD)
- treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
- therapy and prevention of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain
- treatment and prevention of childhood seizure disorders
Saponins
- promote cardiovascular health
- normalize blood sugar, which could help with weight management
- boosts immune system
- reduces the risk of cancer
Tannins
- first, they help reduce inflammation and protects against cellular damage and certain chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer
- various types of tannins prevent disease and provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits
- antibacterial effects may stop the growth of Staphylococcus bacteria, Candida albicans, and Campylobacter jejuni
- slow the progression of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s
- balance blood sugar levels

Brown Plant Food Phytonutrients

Brown plant foods may contain any of the following phytonutrients:

Beta Glucans
- boosts heart health
- regulates blood sugar
- stimulates immune system
Lignans
- lowered risk of heart disease
- reduces menopausal symptoms
- lowered risk of osteoporosis
- decreased risk of breast cancer
Resistant Starch
- feeds the friendly bacteria in your intestine
- increases the production of short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which feeds the cells of your colon and leads to various improvements in the function of your digestive system
- improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar levels
- increase feelings of fullness and help people eat less
Theobromine
- protects your heart
- increases energy, similar to caffeine
- short-term boost in brain function
- strengthens tooth enamel, promoting healthy teeth
- increases airflow to the lungs, potential cough suppressant
- potent anti-inflammatory
Other Fibers

White Plant Food Phytonutrient

On the other hand, white plant foods may contain any of the following phytonutrients:

Allicin
- lower cholesterol levels
- regulate blood pressure
- alleviate exercise-related muscle damage
Flavanols
- lower blood pressure by improving nitric oxide levels and blood vessel function
- supports neuron production, and brain function and improves blood flow and supply to brain tissue
- maintain healthy blood sugar levels
- has promising anti-cancer properties
Phenolic Acids
- promote the anti-inflammation capacity of human beings

Do you see why it is so important to eat the rainbow? If you are just starting to incorporate more color into your diet, check out the color-sorted grocery list I have in my article, Plant-based Grocery List.

Unlocking More Yummy Secrets: Dive Deeper into the World of Phytonutrients! 🚀🌱

Keeping the Good Stuff in Our Food 🍓🥦

Did you know that how we store and use our colorful fruits and veggies can keep them super-powered for longer? 🤯 Scientists tell us that storing and eating our produce in certain ways can keep all the good stuff (like phytonutrients) in them for longer! So, maybe we can share some cool tips on how to keep our food fresh and super healthy in our next meal plan guide!

Detox Time with Colors!

Ever heard of detox? It’s like giving our bodies a little holiday from all the hard work it does! A cool study showed that phytonutrients (yup, the good stuff in our colorful foods) can help our bodies take a chill pill and get rid of any unwanted stuff. So, adding a rainbow to our plates might just be the vacation our bodies deserve!

Boosting Brain Power with a Splash of Color! 🧠

Guess what? The colors on our plate can also make us brainy! 🤓 Research shows that phytonutrients can give our brains a little boost, helping us think faster and remember things better! So, from red apples to purple grapes, every bite might just be making us the next geniuses!

Tiny Greens, Big Benefits! 🌱💚

Let’s talk about microgreens – tiny little plants with a HUGE punch of nutrients! 🥊 Not only are they super healthy, but they can also be grown in cool, space-saving ways like vertical farming. Adding a sprinkle of these tiny wonders to our meals can be a fun and easy way to level up our nutrient game!

Let’s Keep it Green and Clean! 🌎💙

Speaking of tiny greens, how we grow our food is super important too! Vertical farming is not only super smart but also kind to our planet, making sure we have yummy, nutrient-packed foods in a cool, earth-friendly way!

Wrapping Up: Let’s Celebrate the Colors! 🎉🌈

So, as we munch through the rainbow, remember: each color is not just a treat for our taste buds but a little gift of health, helping us feel awesome inside and out! Let’s celebrate these colors, enjoy every bite, and dance through a life of yummy, healthy eating! 🎊🕺💃

Make sure to check out my Vegetarian Rainbow Charcuterie for a fun way to get the full rainbow of color! The kids love this!

rainbow charcuterie board

References

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